Events in Cruden Bay date back to 1012 when King Malcolm of Scotland defeated a Danish invasion by King Canute.  The name Cruden Bay is actually derived from this battle as 'Slaughter of the Danes'.  After the battle a church dedicated to St Olaf was built near the beach by the Scots and the Danes, and churches dedicated to St Olaf still exist today.  The original baptismal font from the 1012 church is kept in St James Church, to the south of the village.